FIORD BEAUTY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 52, 29 August 1925, Page 11

FIORD BEAUTY

IN THE OTAGO SOUNDS,

The lack of facilities for visits to the Otago Sounds was deplored in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon by ilia Hop. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, who moved: " That in the opinion of the Council measures should be taken, while not involving the Government in financial loss, for the reopening to the public of tho incomparably grandeur of the south-west fiords of Otago." The mover said ho wished to draw attention to the interesting character of the western fiords, and also to the historical interest attaching to them. He referred to the necessity for greater commercial development in the sealing industry, and said that so far as he knew no tourist trips had beeu made to ihe Otago Sounds since the wreck of the "Waikare, and he thought the time hud arrived when they should be reinstituted. Incidentally he placed on recorddetails of the discovery of the M'Kinnon Bros., a3 he said an attempt had been made.to disci-edit Quinton M'Kinnon's claim for the discovery. Sir Thomas referred also to the sporting attractions of tho sounds.

The seconder of the motion was the Hon. G. M. Thomson, who spoke of the value of the sounds ;is a resort for those who desired relief from the' bustle of modern city life. The Government should look into the question of the renewal of the shipping service, 'which he felt would be justified by tho traffic. A survey of Carswoll Sound should be mado with a view to ascertaining its water-power possibilities. .Tho Hon. W. H. Triggs said tho sconery of the western fiords was not equalled by that of auy other p;irt of the world.

It was up to the Union Company, declared tho Hon. W. Earnshaw, to inaugurate a new steamer service to the sounds. It would pay the Government to subsidise the trips.

At this stage the debate was adjourned.